Letters to the editor 8/29

March for women's rights in New Paltz

The New York Civil Liberties Union, Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation and Mid-Hudson Planned Parenthood are among a score of local and state organizations that have endorsed a meeting in support of women's rights that will take place at Peace Park in New Paltz, next to Village Hall, on Saturday Sept. 7. (Storm date will be the following day.)

Women and men throughout the region are expected to attend the event, which is part of a nationwide series of demonstrations initiated by WORD (Women Organized to Resist and Defend) beginning in late August in recognition of Women's Equality Day. The mid-Hudson WORD chapter is organizing the New Paltz rally, which starts promptly at 1 p.m., followed by a march through the business district.

The past few years have seen an unprecedented attack in more than a dozen states on our right to legal, safe abortion - a constitutional right approved by the U.S. Supreme Court 40 years ago. In addition to reproductive rights, speakers will address the plight of low-wage women workers - including millions of single mothers living in or near poverty - and the unremitting high levels of violence against women in America, among other topics.

I invite all mid-Hudson Valley supporters of women's rights to join us on Sept. 7.

For further information, contact: np@defendwomensrights.org, and also link to www.defendwomensrights.org.

Donna Goodman

New Paltz

In defense of Common core

Social and emotional learning occur whether there are schools or not. Non-academic learning occurs at home, in the family, in the community, at the mall and in the park, outside of school and in school as well, whether or not it is formally taught. What we want schools to do is to teach those aspects of our culture that children will not get otherwise - history, math and writing.

Do you remember "Hooked on Phonics?" That industry developed as a result of the whole language fad, the failed theory of learning whereby children ceased receiving phonetic instruction in school. Parents took up the slack and began teaching phonics at home. Kumon Schools found a place in our communities when schools abandoned rote practice. And as schools have stopped teaching handwriting, I expect to see some private entrepreneur take advantage of that failure.

Common core is an attempt to ensure that educators teach something - something other than emotional and social skills. It offers a description at the lowest level of what that "something" is, as well as an expectation that it will be taught throughout the nation. It establishes the right of children to learn certain things and the obligation of educators to teach them - no more cotton-headed "We don't teach math; we teach children." With Common core, educators now understand that it is their responsibility is to teach children math, history and whatever else constitutes children's rightful heritage as Americans.

K.J. Walters

Monroe

Pleasant Valley agendas may affect homeowners

There will be two public hearings at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the Pleasant Valley Town Hall on Route 44.

The first public hearing is on the proposed Open Space Plan for the town of Pleasant Valley. The second public hearing is for the Property Maintenance Code for residents of Pleasant Valley. Both of these plans have a negative effect on the private property rights of homeowners.

I encourage you to go to the following websites and read the proposed plans.

http://pleasantvalley-ny.gov (you will need to click on the Open Space Community Meeting Plan, which can be found under the Bulletin Board heading)